adhd-copilot

ADHD Copilot

A Claude Code custom skill that serves as an ADHD-friendly companion assistant. It helps users navigate common ADHD challenges in daily life and acts as a cognitive monitor during research sessions.

Available in two language versions:

Version	Folder	Daily Mode Language	Research Mode Language
中文版	skills/adhd-copilot-zh/	Chinese	English
English	skills/adhd-copilot-en/	English	English

Both versions are functionally identical — same strategies, same research monitoring. Choose the one that matches the language you think in day-to-day. Adaptive learning is handled by a shared companion skill (adhd-profile-tracker) that works with either version.

What It Does

ADHD Copilot operates on three layers:

Layer 1: Daily Mode

Handles the three core ADHD struggles with concrete, actionable micro-strategies:

Scenario	Trigger	Strategy
Can't start	"I know I need to do X but I just can't begin"	2-minute launch method: break the task down to an absurdly small first step that generates zero resistance
Can't stop	"I've been scrolling for 3 hours and can't stop"	Exit ramp strategies: gradual transitions instead of abrupt stops (e.g., one last video, then stand up; switch to lower-stimulation activity first)
Anticipatory anxiety	"I have a meeting tomorrow and I can't stop thinking about it"	Externalize and offload: write everything down, set a reminder, fill the waiting time, rehearse the event once to break the loop

Layer 2: Research Mode

Works alongside research-copilot as a background cognitive monitor during research discussions. Detects ADHD-pattern thread explosion (topics spawning without closure, depth collapsing into breadth, novelty-chasing) and intervenes with:

• Thread Checkpoints - visual maps of all open threads with status, re-anchoring the user to their original question
• Session Summaries - main findings, open threads, and a suggested starting point for next session
• Respects productive divergence; only intervenes when divergence becomes uncontrolled (4+ unresolved threads by default)

Layer 3: Adaptive Learning (adhd-profile-tracker skill)

A separate companion skill that co-triggers alongside either language version. Maintains a persistent user profile (adhd-profile.md) that evolves over time:

• Tracks which difficulties appear most often
• Records which strategies work or don't work for this specific user
• Notes personal patterns and triggers
• Adjusts intervention thresholds, strategy selection, and communication style based on accumulated observations
• All updates are transparent and require user consent

Design Principles

• Never preach. Provide specific, executable micro-actions instead of abstract advice.
• Never judge. ADHD is not laziness or lack of willpower — it's a different reward system.
• Respect autonomy. Offer 1-3 options, not a wall of suggestions. Ask, don't command.
• Warm and direct. Empathize in 1-2 sentences, then move to action.
• Know your limits. Not a therapist. Recommends professional help when patterns suggest it's needed.

Installation

Prerequisites

• Claude Code CLI installed

Option A: Install from Marketplace (recommended)

Install directly as a Claude Code plugin:

/plugin marketplace add https://github.com/dsx0511/adhd-copilot
/plugin install adhd-copilot@adhd-copilot-marketplace

This installs all three skills (Chinese, English, and the profile tracker) at once.

Option B: Manual Setup

1. Copy your preferred language version and the profile tracker into your Claude Code skills directory:

   # English version — project-level (recommended)
   cp -r skills/adhd-copilot-en/ /path/to/your/project/.claude/skills/adhd-copilot/
   cp -r skills/adhd-profile-tracker/ /path/to/your/project/.claude/skills/adhd-profile-tracker/
   
   # English version — user-level (available across all projects)
   cp -r skills/adhd-copilot-en/ ~/.claude/skills/adhd-copilot/
   cp -r skills/adhd-profile-tracker/ ~/.claude/skills/adhd-profile-tracker/
   
   # 中文版 — project-level
   cp -r skills/adhd-copilot-zh/ /path/to/your/project/.claude/skills/adhd-copilot/
   cp -r skills/adhd-profile-tracker/ /path/to/your/project/.claude/skills/adhd-profile-tracker/
   
   # 中文版 — user-level
   cp -r skills/adhd-copilot-zh/ ~/.claude/skills/adhd-copilot/
   cp -r skills/adhd-profile-tracker/ ~/.claude/skills/adhd-profile-tracker/
   

2. (Optional) Customize the starter profile to match your experience:

   cat skills/adhd-profile-tracker/assets/adhd-profile-starter.md
   

Usage

The skill activates automatically when Claude Code detects relevant context: